When a person is seriously injured in an accident by another person, they can be entitled to compensation for their losses and damages. But what happens if the personal injury victim is partially at-fault? In Indiana, there is an area of law that covers this topic. It is called comparative and contributory negligence, which we will discuss it further in detail, below. Continue reading to learn more about the Indiana comparative fault rule, and what to do if you are partially at-fault for an accident that caused you serious injury.

Indiana Comparative Fault Rule

IC 34-51-2-6

Indiana Code 34-51-2-6 states that, “the claimant is barred from recovery if the claimant’s contributory fault is greater than the fault of all persons whose fault proximately contributed to the claimant’s damages.” This means that if a victim is no more than 50% responsible for the accident and subsequent injuries, they can sue their opponent for compensation to cover medical expenses, hospital bills, lost wages, and more. But if they are at least 50% or more at-fault, they cannot collect compensation for damages from other parties. But they may be able to collect from their own insurance company. The Indiana comparative fault rule is intended to reduce the amount of damages in accordance to the amount of fault the victim contributed to an accident.

Common Scenarios

The most common types of accidents that involve contributory negligence are slip and falls and car accidents. Here is an example of how it could happen: Gerry is a little late to work, so he is driving a few miles over the speed limit. Then, a truck at the adjacent street turns left in front of him, resulting in a collision. Since Gerry was speeding, he is found to be 30% responsible, while the truck driver is found 70% responsible. So if the total amount of damages equals $20,000, Gerry would likely receive 70 percent of that total ($14,000) instead of the full amount.

There are various circumstances that can place blame on a personal injury victim. In the case of slip and fall accidents, property owners can refute their share of blame with these common arguments:

➨ The dangerous condition should have been obvious.
➨ The dangerous condition was blocked off by signage, cones, and tape.
➨ The victim was in an unpermitted area, or area where visitors are not allowed.
➨ The victim was wearing inappropriate footwear (i.e. high heels, defective shoes, etc.)

In the case of motor vehicle and pedestrian accidents, these arguments could be made to place fault on a victim:

➨ The victim was using their cell phone while driving.
➨ The victim was using their cell phone while walking across a street.
➨ The victim was inebriated.
➨ The victim crossed the road illegally.

If It Happens to You

Contact a licensed personal injury lawyer if you were involved in an accident that caused you serious injuries. They have the knowledge, experience, and resources to protect your right to compensation. They will use every strategy possible to reduce your liability in an accident.

Indianapolis Personal Injury Attorneys

Call the law office of Craven, Hoover, and Blazek P.C. at 317-881-2700 to file a personal injury claim in Indiana. We are seasoned Indianapolis personal injury attorneys who want nothing more than to recover the full and fair compensation for accident victims across Indiana. We offer free initial consultations and never collect lawyer fees unless we prevail for you. Call 317-881-2700 and get started as soon as today.